gathered round Weyler and praised his rule--which had been so
bloodthirsty and savage,--the Cubans would be still more enraged against
Spain, and less inclined to believe that she really meant to give them
the promised reforms.

To prevent any show of feeling, word was cabled from Spain that Weyler
was on no account to leave the island until General Blanco arrived.

Weyler must have thought this to mean that Blanco had orders to forbid
any demonstration, and so, in direct defiance to the orders he had
received, he decided to embark the day that Blanco was expected.

By this means he was able to permit the demonstration which was so
pleasing to his vanity, and also to make trouble for his successor.

The Cubans, as Spain feared, were shocked that the Spaniards should make
an idol of their bitterest enemy, and immediately began to doubt the
truth of the Home Rule stories.

Weyler went aboard his ship in great state on Friday afternoon, but by
Saturday the fickle people of Havana were laughing at the man whom they
had praised and embraced the day before.

Weyler had expected that Blanco would arrive an hour or two after his
departure, but, unfortunately, soon after he had embarked he learned
that Blanco's ship could not reach Cuba till Sunday morning, and as the
_Montserrat_, on which Weyler had taken passage, had orders not to leave
Havana till Blanco arrived, the great Weyler was cooped up on board
ship the whole of Saturday, waiting with what patience he might for the
arrival of General Blanco.